No abstract

An inverse blade design method applicable to two-and three-dimensional inviscid and viscous flow in turbomachinery cascades is presented and is applied to design cascades in two-dimensional viscous flow. The pressure distribution along the blade surfaces is prescribed and is reached by modifying the initial guess of the blade geometry. The geometry modification is computed from a virtual velocity distribution derived from the difference between the current and the target pressure along the blade surfaces. The inverse method is implemented into and is consistent with the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations where an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation on a moving and deforming grid is used. The grid velocities are determined from the space conservation law (SCL), which ensures a fully conservative computational procedure. The unsteady RANS equations are discretized using a cell-vertex finite volume method and the time accuracy is achieved using a dual time stepping scheme. An algebraic Baldwin-Lomax model is used for turbulence closure. The design method is first validated, and then its robustness, flexibility and usefulness are demonstrated on the redesign of recent compressor and turbine blade geometries used in modern gas turbine engines.

In this work, the redesign of a centrifugal transonic compressor impeller with splitter blades by means of the three-dimensional inverse design code TURBOdesign-1 is presented. The basic design methodology for impellers with splitter blades is outlined and is applied in a systematic way to improve the aero/mechanical performance of a transonic 6.2:1 pressure ratio centrifugal compressor impeller. The primary design variables are the main and splitter blades loading and their thickness distributions, the splitter to main blade work ratio, as well as the span-wise swirl distribution. The flow in the original and redesigned impellers are then analyzed by means of a commercial CFD code (ANSYS CFX). The predicted flow field for the original impeller is compared with detailed L2F measurements inside and outside the impeller. The validated CFD results are used to compare the flow field in the optimized and original impeller. It is shown that the inverse design method could be effectively used to control the position and strength of the shock waves, eliminate flow separation and hence obtain a more uniform impeller exit flow in order to improve the aerodynamic performance. In addition, some results are presented on the comparison of stress and vibration in both impellers.

A methodology for designing pumps to meet multi-objective design criteria is presented. The method combines a 3D inviscid inverse design method with a multi-objective genetic algorithm to design pumps which meet various aerodynamic and geometrical requirements. The parameterization of the blade shape through the blade loading enables 3D optimization with very few design parameters. A generic pump stage is used to demonstrate the proposed methodology. The main design objectives are improving cavitation performance and reducing leading edge sweep. The optimization is performed subject to certain constraints on Euler head, throat area, thickness and meridional shape so that the resulting pump can meet both design and off-design conditions. A Pareto Front is generated for the two objective functions and 3 different configurations on the Pareto front are selected for detailed study by 3D RANS code. The CFD results confirm the main outcomes of the optimization process.

Tunnel ventilation fans, classically, must have the ability to both supply and extract air from a tunnel system, with the operator's choice dependent on the tunnel ventilation system's operating mode most appropriate at any given point in time. Consequently, tunnel ventilation fans must incorporate a reversible aerodynamic design which limits the maximum fan pressure rise. This paper presents three high pressure reversible fan concepts. These comprise a two-stage counter rotating fan, a single-stage high speed fan, and a two-stage fan with a single motor and impeller on each end of the motor shaft. The authors consider the relative merits of each concept. The third concept offers the most compact fan, transform, silencer, and damper package size. The authors discuss the mechanical design challenges that occur with a two-stage fan with a single motor and impeller on each end of the motor shaft. They present and consider a selected motor bearing arrangement and casing design for maintainability. Finally, the authors present both prototype fan and full-scale package aerodynamic and acoustic performance, before discussing the challenges presented by high temperature certification in accordance with the requirements of EN 12101-3: 2012.